NATURAL CLASSIFICATION. 



U7 



urillus, which bursts by an internal elasticity. The Meli- 

 cope Forst. has a similar fruit, only that, in this case, the 

 capsules have but one seed. In the Cornea Sm. we find 

 a capsule of many loculi, derived undoubtedly from four 

 single capsules which have been united ; (Tab. III. Fig. 

 9. 10.) We all know that the fundamental genus of the Mal- 

 vaceae contains numerous capsules placed in a circle. The 

 same arrangement takes place in Sida and Lavatera. Hi- 

 biscus, again, has a capsule of many loculi, which is only 

 distinguished from the former fruits by the circumstance, 

 that in the one case the seeds are separated by a simple, and 

 in the other by a double partition. In illustration of the last 

 stated principle, I produce the striking instance of the Linnaa. 

 Its relation to the Lonicera, Hallera, Schradera, and espe- 

 cially to the Triosteum, and even to the Sambucus, is obvious ; 

 and it belongs, therefore, to the Caprifoliae. Now, these have, 

 for the most part, fruit with three loculi and three seeds. 

 Linnaa also carries a berry with three loculi, but when it is 

 fully ripe, we always find but one seed, and the other two 

 loculi are united with the one which bears this seed. The 

 Poly galeae have commonly a germen of two loculi, but the 

 ripe fruit contains only one seed. The case is the same in the 

 Phillyrea and Rytidea Decand. Three or four seeds are 

 here united, so that the situation of the embryon is changed 

 and pressed to one side. 



Lastly^ The opinion of Brown does not seem to be without 

 foundation, that the caryopses of the syngenesious plants, 

 which we always see simple, h^wQ originally been double ; 

 because, in some species, we see very distinctly two lateral 

 funiculi umbilicales, which would not be there if the seed 

 were simple. The divided pistil points, as we have former- 

 ly hinted, to the same conclusion; (Neue Entdeck. I. s. 171. 

 172.) 



190. 



Respecting the Union of Organs we may establish the fol- 

 lowing laws. The importance of this union of the parts of 

 fructification increases with the difficulties that are presented to 



